EXCLUSIVE: The world that provided fictional backdrop to such films as The Fighter and The Departed, will come to life in a new unscripted project at A&E executive produced by Departed star and The Fighter star/producer Mark Wahlberg. Tentatively titled Teamsters, the project, which has received a pilot order, features the Teamsters Local 25 in Boston. Wahlberg is executive producing with Stephen Levinson, Kevin Harrison and Bill Thompson. “A&E strives to remain ahead of the curve while delivering first-class auspices to our audience,” said Bob DeBitetto, President and General Manager, A&E and BIO Channel. “We’re so proud to collaborate with this group of producers and offer an authentic point of view from the unique characters this world provides.”

Teamsters — produced by Wahlberg’s Closest to the Hole, Levinson’s Leverage and Harrison’s Transition Prods — provide a first-hand glimpse of the legendary union in the most aggressive and territorial city in America: Boston. Here, the Teamsters Local 25 battle for the rights of their 11,000 members. “We believe A&E is the perfect venue to create a cutting-edge show that promises to be like nothing else on television,” Levinson said.

Thompson first started exploring the idea for a show about Teamsters after watching the dramatic events in Wisconsin last summer, when local union members invaded the statehouse to protest anti-union legislation. WME introduced him to Boston born-and-bred Wahlberg, who was instrumental in locking in Teamsters Local 25 in his hometown. Wahlberg has an extra personal connection to the project — his dad was a Teamster truck driver in Boston. Teamsters is envisioned as a reality franchise that would showcase unions in different cities, starting with Boston.